Geriatric

• Geriatrics


  The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in older people and the problems specific to aging
• Gerontology


  The study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing
• Senescence


  The state of being old : the process of becoming old
• Senility


  The physical and mental decline associated with old age
• Old Age


  The later part of life; the period of life after youth and middle age, usually with reference to deterioration
• Aging


  The process of becoming older, encompassing physical, psychological, and social changes
• Chronic Illness


  A disease that persists for a long time, generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication
• Geriatric Nursing


  A specialist who helps elderly patients recover from illness or injury by providing practical care and developing patient care plans
• Gerontologic Nursing


  Focuses on the health and wellness of an aging population, in addition to illness
• Wear-and-Tear Theory


  • The effects of aging are caused by progressive damage to cells and body systems over time
• Biologic Clock Theory


  • Aging is a biological function that serves an evolutionary purpose and is controlled by a biological clock or program
• Immunological Theory


  • The process of human aging is a mild and generalized form of a prolonged autoimmune phenomenon
• Deprivation Theory


  • People deprived of things deemed valuable in society join social movements to redress their grievances
• Disengagement Theory


  • It is natural and acceptable for older adults to withdraw from society and personal relationships as they age
• Symbolic Theory


  • Individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world, developed through social interaction
• In the Philippines, the number of older people is increasing rapidly, faster than growth in the total population
• Socio-Economic Statistics on the Elderly

  • Income level
  • Income Sources
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Benefits and Entitlements
  • Education Level
• According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 7.5 million senior citizens in the country, accounting for 7.5 percent of the total population, as of its latest census in 2015
• The average monthly pension
• Aging in the Philippines has made an impact on different economic concerns including poverty, inflation, and growth
• Assumptions about the economic impact of demographic aging

  • Slow down in population growth will result in reduced number of new labor force entrants
  • Increased ratio of the elderly to below-retirement age workers will make it difficult for the labor sector to maintain productivity levels to support the growing aged population
  • Rising life expectancy, and spiraling medical costs makes it harder for the labor for to maintain present standards of living
• Concerns of the Elderly

  • Need to allocate more tax pesos for pension system
  • Quality of care afforded to older adults with medical conditions is substandard
  • Older individuals of lower SES have increased mortality rates, higher stroke incidence, higher incidence of progressive chronic kidney disease, lower health related quality of life, smaller social networks and lower quality of social relations
  • Older persons with less than a high school education are at a greater risk for depression
  • Older persons living in poor neighbourhoods are more likely to have underdeveloped and poorly integrated social networks
  • Socio-cultural factors that may affect the risk of elder maltreatment
• Incidence of Morbidity
• Incidence of Mortality
• Key Statistics on the Philippine's Population of Older People
• Characteristics of Early Adulthood

  • Period of Emotional Tension
  • The Problem Age
  • The Reproduction Age
  • Period of Social Isolation
  • Time of Value Change
  • Time of Commitment
  • The Age of Settling Down
  • Time of Adjustment to New Life
  • A creative Age
• Characteristics of Middle Adulthood

  • An "awkward age"
  • A time of transition
  • A time of stress
  • A time of achievement
  • A "dangerous period"
  • A time of evaluation
  • Evaluated by double standard
  • A time of empty nest
  • A time of boredom
  • A dreaded period
• Characteristics of Late Adulthood

  • The elderly have a minority status
  • There are many stereotypes of old age
  • There are individual differences
  • Aging requires role changes
  • Old age is judged by different criteria
  • Poor adjustment is a characteristic of old age
  • Social attitude towards the aged tends to be unfavorable
  • Desire for rejuvenation is wide spread in old age
  • Old age is a period of decline
• Genetic Theories


  • The life span of a human is programmed within the genes
  • Lifespan is largely determined by the genes we inherit
• Random Error Theory


  • Aging results from errors and changes in the genetic information involved in cellular protein formation
• Gene Regulation Theory


  • Harmful genes become active in later life, causing failure of the organism to survive
  • Juvenescent genes mediate youthful vigor & mature adult well-being, while senescent genes promote functional decline & structural deterioration
• Somatic Mutation Theory


  • Mutations occurring in cells other than the reproductive cells accumulate over time, causing cells to deteriorate and malfunction
• DNA Damage Theory


  • Aging is a result of unrepaired DNA damage accumulation caused by environmental pollutants, radiation, and food additives
• Free Radical Theory


  • Byproducts of metabolism (free radicals) accumulate and prevent proteins and other essential molecules from functioning properly, damaging cell membranes
• Antioxidants


  • Chemicals that prevent the formation of free radicals and neutralize them
• Oxidative Stress theory


  Free radicals are byproducts of metabolism, charged molecules with unpaired electrons that react and interact with other molecules during normal metabolism and "steal" electrons from other molecules causing "oxidation"
• When free radicals accumulate, it prevents proteins and other essential molecules from functioning properly and damages the cell membrane decreasing its efficiency
• Radiation can create free radicals in cells
• Exposure to ionizing radiation (UVA & infrared radiation) contribute significantly to photoaging, producing severe elastosis
• Antioxidants


  Chemicals that prevent the formation of free radicals and neutralize free radicals, which damage cells, clog arteries and contribute to chronic illness and aging